Warm welcome and lots going on during visit to Swansea Space

The centre is one of 80 Swansea Spaces to receive funding this winter to help them continue and expand their provision so people can socialise, enjoy food and refreshments, as well as activities.

Run by the Pontarddulais Partnership, today Canolfan y Bont was serving warm drinks and breakfast rolls while representatives from Swansea Dementia Hwb and Swansea Care and Repair’s welfare benefits section were on hand to offer advice to those who needed it.

There was a Welsh language class, the café was open as well as the foodbank for emergency parcels.

Cath Evans from the Partnership said the idea behind the Swansea Space was to offer a warm welcome and friendship to anyone who wished to pop in.

Usually the Swansea Space runs over four sessions on Mondays and Fridays.

On a Monday they serve hot soup with bread and butter together with tea, coffee or squash and show a film if that’s what those attending wish to do.

Friday’s groups tend to focus on a chat with a cuppa and sometimes crafts including knitting, sewing, crocheting, paint by numbers, jigsaws and diamond art.

Canolfan y Bont is busy on other days of the week including the foodbank being open on Wednesdays.

Cath said: “Our Swansea Space runs year round and the funding we have received from Swansea Council and the Welsh Government over recent years helps us to expand what we do in the winter.

“As well as funding for the space we have also received money from the Direct Food Fund which helps keep the food bank going and allows us to provide supermarket vouchers for essentials to those that need them.”

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Support, Hayley Gwilliam, said: “Canolfan y Bont is a brilliant example of somewhere providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere where people can meet up and socialise and it was clear today how much residents value what it does.

“But it is just one of 80 Swansea Spaces that have been funded in our communities this winter thanks to investment from our partners in Welsh Government.

“Swansea Council is also doing more than ever before to support residents thanks to our £650,000 #HereForYouThisWinter campaign.

“This has also seen financial backing for food banks and other emergency food support, meals for vulnerable pupils during the school holidays, free and subsidised activities for young and older people and direct help to families and individuals who were struggling with the cost Christmas.”

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#CanolfanYBont #CllrHayleyGwilliam #HereForYouThisWinter #JaneHuttMS #Pontarddulais #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaSpaces #warmSpaces

Help for residents at risk of missing out this Christmas

Swansea Council say there is also support to feed pupils during the Christmas and half-term holiday, funding to Swansea Spaces providing welcoming places for people to gather and socialise and free and subsidised activities for young and older people over the winter period. 

The council added that other initiatives include free buses for all on 19 dates leading up to Christmas and the New Year supporting people to shop and local businesses.

There are also grants to food banks and other food providers through this period of high demand and a promise that there will always be a bed in Swansea for anyone at risk of sleeping rough should they want one.

Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart said: “We know that the Christmas and winter periods puts big pressures on families and individuals who are already struggling, so we are doing all we can locally to help and support our residents with our Here For You This Winter campaign.

“The shopping vouchers are going to families and individuals who are most in need of support so that they are able to get the essentials that they need during the holidays and not go without on Christmas Day.

“On top of this and with the support of our colleagues in Welsh Government we making funding available for warm and welcoming spaces for people who are feeling lonely or isolated so they can get together.  We will also be providing support to our local food banks and other emergency food providers as well as funding to feed young people in the Christmas and half-term holidays.

“The free bus initiative is again proving popular with families and our Together at Christmas event held in partnership with JR Events and Catering at the Brangwyn Hall was well attended providing a free Christmas dinner, entertainment and outreach services to those who are vulnerable.”

Cabinet Member for Well-being Alyson Anthony added: “These vouchers will make a big difference to those that need it most and for some will be the difference between having food on the table on Christmas day or possibly a gift for their children or not.

“I’m proud that as a council we doing all that we can to support out residents this winter.”

To find out about the support available in Swansea visit: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/costoflivinghelp

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#Christmas #CllrAlysonAnthony #CllrRobStewart #FoodBank #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaSpaces